On My 35th Birthday

Today is my birthday. It definitely feels like a weird time to have a birthday. It was weird enough to think about celebrating during a worldwide pandemic, but feels even stranger now with protests happening all over the US, having started in my hometown of Minneapolis.

But, since it is my birthday I thought I might use the occasion to beg a few minutes of your time and share my prayer for myself in my coming 36th year, which is simply to have the strength and the grace to change my mind on an ongoing basis.

I don’t know when it went out of fashion to change your mind. All I know is that it’s hard to do because once anyone finds out you’ve done it, they’ll give you a hard time. Even about silly stuff like finding a new favorite color, “But I thought you loved pink?” “Well I do, but now I also love purple.”

It’s a mysterious reaction because it seems obvious that I should change my mind. Are we not all hoping to be a little wiser than we were yesterday? Do I really want to keep the same opinions and ideas I had at 18, 26, or 30?

If I’ve learned anything in 35 years it’s that I don’t really know anything. Whatever I think I know is probably wrong on some level, and I want the strength and grace to reconsider my life every day from now until the end.

That’s it. No big deal right?

Tags:

life

Recent Comments

Barbara Baker Fri, 06/12/2020 - 17:23

Birthday blessings to you now and through many, many more years.

Linda2 Dlr Fri, 06/12/2020 - 12:22

Happy Birthday, Marisa! I hope you have a FABULOUS day! And thank you for creating such a nice scrapbooking community. And I grew up believing that it is a woman's prerogative to change her mind. hahaha

Gill knox Fri, 06/12/2020 - 11:48

happy birthday! have a nice YOU day :)

Marg Ruttan Fri, 06/12/2020 - 07:35

Happy Birthday, Marisa. Hope you have a wonderful day and this year is all you hope for an d much more.

Nancy Tosh Fri, 06/12/2020 - 06:35

Happy Birthday Marisa. As far as your birthday wish is concerned, I have always been told and continue to believe this ..... it is a women's perogative to change her mind!! And I play this card whenever needed.

Luanne Miller Wed, 06/10/2020 - 19:58

Happy Bday! You are wiser than yesterday, so it holds true that you are wiser than your worst year and wiser than your best year! Your question is reflective and we don't always remember logic when emotions are involved. Logic is important, because it is usually based on facts. So remember, That’s it. No big deal! God Bless

Luanne Miller Wed, 06/10/2020 - 19:48

Happy Bday! You are wiser than yesterday, so it holds true that you are wiser than your worst year and wiser than your best year! Your years will be better so remember, That’s it. No big deal! Because you are Wiser this year! God Bless

Stella Luna Tue, 06/09/2020 - 19:53

Happy belated birthday and best wishes for another year of growth! Your post reminds me of the caterpillar meme, where the caterpillar is stunned by the butterfly's strange and bedazzling new look and accuses him or her:: Well, YOU have sure CHANGED ... The butterfly calmly replies:: We're supposed to.

Tamalita DeBernardi Tue, 06/09/2020 - 09:47

Belated happy birthday to you!! Wow, what a dream - to be able to change your mind on an ongoing basis. Somewhere along the way we have gotten ourselves locked into 'no turning back' and while at times, that serves, it is true that it is not always the best option. Best wishes!

Elisabeth Schuster Mon, 06/08/2020 - 23:14

Belated happy birthday! I hope it was a good day for you and many happy returns. Your thoughts made me go and look up "philosophy of opinion" ... thanks for the thought-provoking impulse!

Sunny Faith Rush Mon, 06/08/2020 - 20:38

Beautifully spoken, just like your heart.

Kaleena Farmer Sat, 06/06/2020 - 14:43

"to have the strength and the grace to change my mind on an ongoing basis" ----- this! It is something that has been on my mind for quite a few months now and even more so with all that is going on around me. I hope you had a great birthday!

Randi Synnøve Larssen Fri, 06/05/2020 - 22:47

Happy Birthday!!!

Cheryl Price Fri, 06/05/2020 - 17:45

Hope you have a wonderful Birthday!! Love the pic. Changing your mind about things shows growth- so keep on growing.

Robin Sampson Fri, 06/05/2020 - 13:16

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Chitra David Fri, 06/05/2020 - 05:10

May God Bless you & yours abundantly this birthday, & many other birthdays to come! ...and may He always guide you to make the right choices whenever you want to change your mind! Have a good one!!!

Yanina Flannagan Fri, 06/05/2020 - 05:03

Happy Birthday!

Diana Smet Fri, 06/05/2020 - 02:37

Happy Birthday !!!

Olga Pisarenko Thu, 06/04/2020 - 23:25

Happy Birthday, Marisa! Changing your mind is natural. It's LIFE.

Charlotte Deerborn Thu, 06/04/2020 - 18:57

Happy Birthday!

Sharon-Dewi Stolp Thu, 06/04/2020 - 14:18

Happy birthday Marisa! I hope you're able to have a wonderful and festive day despite the current weirdness and worries about what's going on in the world today! *heart*

Bina Greene 🎑 Thu, 06/04/2020 - 13:44

Happy Birthday, Marisa. May all your dreams come true.

Shannon Maguire Thu, 06/04/2020 - 12:57

Happy birthday! Changing your mind shows growth.

Kate McDougall Thu, 06/04/2020 - 12:24

Happy birthday Marisa and thank you for your thoughts! 💖

Sandy Tag Thu, 06/04/2020 - 11:49

Well spoken...here's wishing you a wonderful birthday!

Karen Thompson Thu, 06/04/2020 - 11:23

Happy Birthday!!!

Tina Shaw Thu, 06/04/2020 - 11:10

Tell them to bite you! :P You enjoy your birthday!!!!

Mona Kent Thu, 06/04/2020 - 10:10

Have a Very Happy Birthday!

Terrell Solano Thu, 06/04/2020 - 09:30

Have a Wonderful Birthday! Keep changing your mind, it keeps things fresh and fun!

Bourico Casper Thu, 06/04/2020 - 08:42

Happy bihday Marisa!!!

It's very good to change your mind, someone once told me that someone who never changes his mind in life is crazy!
Me to, I think this whole situation has forced all of us to pause and re-examine a lot of things.

Gg Green Thu, 06/04/2020 - 08:08

Happy birthday!

Tricia ptktj Thu, 06/04/2020 - 07:51

Happy Birthday! Wishing you a wonderful celebration and growing wisdom for the coming years. Blessings!

Cindy Taylor Thu, 06/04/2020 - 07:04

Happy birthday!

Becky Wooler Thu, 06/04/2020 - 06:32

Happy birthday, Marisa! I think this whole situation has forced all of us to pause and re-examine a lot of things. I hope that we all come out of this stronger and better people in the end.

Tamara Didkovskaya Thu, 06/04/2020 - 06:22

С днём рождения,Мариса! Желаю Вам крепкого здоровья.Это самое главное всегда,а сейчас особенно.Потому что всё остальное будет зависить от Вас. Пусть Господь не оставляет Вас.

Katherine Neilley Thu, 06/04/2020 - 06:07

Happy Birthday! I just turned 39 last month, and in the last few days I've really started to take a look at things I want to do differently for the 40 and beyond stage of life. Things to reboot and things to shut down completely. What's truly needed and what I just keep, because I think I need to. A "spring clean" of life!

Annette Coriale Thu, 06/04/2020 - 05:10

Happy Birthday!!! Hope you have an awesome year!

Beatrice Loren Thu, 06/04/2020 - 05:02

Happy Birthday!Adding yu to my prayers. Big hugs.

Emily Thorne Thu, 06/04/2020 - 04:55

Changing your mind is part of growing and learning. People who don't like change have a problem with both concepts. I am not sure if it is laziness or fear on their part but never let them hold you back.
Happy Birthday with lots of blessings for a great year ahead! :)

Cintia dhariana Thu, 06/04/2020 - 04:20

Happy Birthday Marisa! We are all a bit confused and trying to evaluate things in our lives. You are not alone! (A huge pandemy, of biblical proportions will do that to you I guess...) I hope you feel better soon! Hugs!

Marlyn Ramirez Thu, 06/04/2020 - 02:15

happy birthday, Marisa! i will include you in my prayers

Blog By

Marisa Lerin

About Me

Hi There! I’m Marisa Lerin and you’ll see me around at DigitalScrapbook.com a lot. I started this site in 2010 soon after I discovered a new love in digital scrapbooking. DigitalScrapbook.com has gone through some significant changes since that time and it’s grown into this lovely community site you are seeing now. I am daily surprised by the turn of life’s events that has led me down this path. If you're new to the site, welcome! Here are a few tidbits about me that I hope will help you get to know me better!

I’m originally from Minnesota, USA, but spent a good chunk of my childhood living abroad (in Bolivia and Hong Kong). I returned to Minnesota to attend university, got married and then moved overseas again (Korea, then Jordan and 1 year of traveling). My designs are heavily influenced by these many nomadic years. I am currently back in the USA, now living in the great state of Oregon!

I have no official training for what I’m doing, since I decided very wisely (haha) to study physics in university. I am always learning new things about digital scrapbooking, and this community has been immensely helpful for that!

If I manage to stop digital scrapbooking you will probably find me watching TV, reading or baking. I also enjoy writing for the blog here at DigitalScrapbook.com where I talk about whatever happens to be catching my fancy at the moment.